Get Ready for Winter Driving

With temperatures dropping and winter road conditions just around the corner, Nova Scotians are encouraged to prepare now for winter driving.

“Every year, the first snowfall seems to throw us all for a loop,” said Geoff MacLellan, Minister, Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal. “Now is the time to prepare your vehicle for winter driving. Top up fluids, replace windshield wipers, keep an emergency kit in your car, and make your appointment to have winter tires installed. From a safety perspective, winter tires really do make a difference.”

“We want to encourage all Nova Scotians to consider using winter tires,” said Cpl. Jennifer Clarke, Nova Scotia RCMP. “They are better than all-seasons, they improve traction in winter conditions, and are simply better suited to the road conditions we experience in this part of the country during the winter months.”

While Nova Scotians are getting ready, winter operators are also preparing for the season. More than 400 pieces of snow and ice clearing equipment are ready to go and salt and sand domes are filled to the brim. During a winter event, the department works 24/7 to ensure roads are safe.

“We don’t hold back in winter,” said Barbara Baillie, the department’s executive director of maintenance and operations. “We know how important it is to keep people moving and to do that, roads need to be safe for travel. Our winter operators give everything they have toward the goal of making sure our roads are safe.”